Gas fueled cigar lighter



MAsAJlRo YosHlNAGA 3,164,001

GAS FUELED CIGAR LIGHTER 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENToR. MAM/ma yar/,www

BY reaz-Mr, F1551; 62249 ffy/aw Jan. 5, 1965 Filed Jan. 51, 1963 Jan- 5, 1965 MAsAJlRo YosHlNAGA 3,164,001

GAS FUELED CIGAR LIGHTR 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 3l, 1963 ATM/@MHV Jan. 5', 1965 MASAJIRO YOSHINAGA GAS FUELED CIGAR LIGHTER 4 Sheets-Sheet -3 Filed Jan. 3l, 1963 FI G IN VEN TOR. MATA/M0 yJW//VAGA BY v 0:71a; mae, 5455/?, fue f Jbfww Jam 5, 1965 MAsAJlRo YosHlNAGA 3,164,001

cms FUELED CIGAR LIGHTER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan'. 31, 1963 FI E United States Patent O1 3,164,601 GAS FUELED CIGAR LIGHTER lviasajiro Yoshinaga, Tokyo, Japan, assigner to Prince Sangyo Kahushilii Kaisha, Taito-itu, Tokyo, Ilapan Filed dan. 31, 1963, Ser. No. 255,354 Claims priority, application Japan, Feb. 7, '1962, 37/3,818 8 Claims. (Cl. 67--7.1)

This invention relates to cigar lighters fueled by combustible gases such as butane or propane which can be liquidized under pressure controlled by means of opening the valve member.

It is an object of the invention to provide lighters of the above character wherein a valve mechanism, actuated by means of a magnetic force, controls the flow of a combustible gas fuel coming from a fuel chamber provided in a lighter casing; the magnetic force being either repel-ling or attracting, and being provided by permanent magnets.

It is another object of the invention to provide lighters wherein the supply, ignition and shut-olf operations are carried out smoothly without deviating from the conventional type of cigar lighters and furthermore to provide lighters having a valve mechanism which is so constructed as to make the fabrication of the valve easy and are therefore more suitable for producing on a mass production basis.

A rst feature of the invention is in a lighter having permanent magnets, one of which is positioned within a valve mechanism provided at a top wall of a lighter casing having a fuel passageway which is in communication with a fuel chamber, with the north pole facing upwardly and the south pole facing downward without being restricted in vertical movement; and another permanent magnet which is secured within a closure member which moves between a point covering the valve mechanism and a point exposing the valve mechanism, with its north pole facing downward and its south pole facing upwardly so that the fuel passageway can be closed by a valve which is to be actuated by means of a repelling force produced between the two magnetic poles of the same polarity of said magnets, when the covering member covers the valve mechanism.

Another feature of the invention is in a lighter having permanent magnets, one of which is positioned within a valve mechanism provided at atop wall of the casing, having a fuel passageway which is in communication with a fuel chamber, the north pole facing upwardly and the south pole facing downward without being restricted in vertical movement; and another permanent magnet which is secured within a closure member which moves between a point covering the valve mechanism and a point exposing the valve mechanism, with its south pole facing downward and its north pole facing upwardly so that the fuel passageway can be closed by the valve which is to be actuated by means of an attracting force produced between the two magnetic poles of the opposite polarity of said magnets, when the closure covers the valve mechamsm.

Further, another feature of the invention is in a lighter having more than two permanent magnets which are to be inserted within the valve mechanism so that the fuel passageway can be closed by a valve which is to be `actuated by repelling or attracting forces produced by these permanent magnets when a closure member having no permanent magnet is exposed to the valve mechanism.

A still further feature of the invention is in a lighter provided with a valve mechanism and a closure member having thereon one or more of the following types of permanent magnets: (a) an annealed magnet; (b) a synthetic resin magnet containing an annealed permanent magnet; or (c) a rubber magnet containing an annealed permanent magnet.

The combination of permanent magnets in the invention will be either a combina-tion of magnetic poles of same polarity S-NeeNAS where a repelling force is to be produced or a combination of magnetic poles of opposite polarity NS NS where an attracting force is to be produced, or the combination of both. Although the stronger force will be produced by combination of opposite poles than that of same poles, the latter is more suitable to use for lighters due to structural reasons of the valve mechanism of lighters. That is, since the valve mechanism is generally provided at a top wall of a lighter casing wherein a fuel passageway communicating with a fuel chamber tends to run vertically from the bottom upwardly, it is more desirable to have the fuel passageway closed by depressing a valve downward from the top.

The permanent magnets to be used in the invention are composed of non-cubical crystals, especially of the magnetic anisotropy of hexagonal variety made of annealing iron-oxides and one or more of such substances as metallic barium, strontium, lead or bismuth. Furthermore, the permanent magnet may be of a more improved type composed of a synthetic resin such as nylon, polystyrol and PVC, or vulcanized natural rubber as well as synthetic rubber containing a powder of the annealed permanent magnet as described above. Alternatively, any other permanent magnets which may be constained Within the valve mechanism and can be fabricated so as to float by issuing pressure of gaseous fuel are acceptable.

The valve member incorporating the permanent magnets, the closure member and the lighter casing are to be made of non-magnetic metal such as brass, nickel alloy, aluminum alloy, copper, etc.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be specifically lreferred to in the description hereinafter contained in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and will become readily apparent after reading this description.

FIGURE 1 is a front view partially in cross-section of a lighter constructed to operate in accordance with the invention, with each part being shown in its normal position before starting operation.

FIGURE 2 is a portion of the front view, shown in cross-section similar to FIGURE 1, but showing the lighter in its operating condition.

FIGURE 3 is a partial front view in cross-section of a lighter having a slightly differing valve mechanism.

FIGURE 4 is a partial front view in cross-section of a lighter having stil-l another Valve mechanism.

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional front View of another type of lighter also constructed in accordance with the invention, showing each part thereof in normal operation condition.

FIGURE 6 is a partial front view in cross-section of a lighter having a valve mechanism wherein .the Valve closing function is reversed from those lighters shown in FIGURE 1 to FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a partial front view in cross-section front View of another lighter having permanent magnets within the valve mechanism only.

The lighter as shown in FIGURE 1 and FIGURE 2 has a fngerpiece 13, sparking wheel 14, and a closure member 15, each being interconnected and placed in alignment at a top wall 12 of a casing 11. Casing 11 is provided with a chamber 1t? constructed to hold under pressure a supply of gaseous fuel such as butane or pro-pane. The end of closure member 15 is engaged with a gear 16 of the sparking wheel 14, with the teeth 13 of the fingerpiece 13 being engaged with the gear 16. Gear 16 and sparking wheel 14 are att-ached to a supporting axis 18, without restriction in movement, axis 1S being supported by bearing piece 17 which is placed vertically on the top wall l2. Also, lthe lingerpiece f3 Kreceives an end of spring 2t) via rod i9 as shown in FlGURE l, thereby biasing it upwardly. Therefore, when the iingerp-iece i3 is pressed with nger pressure, sparks will be produced by the friction between a 'flint 21 land the sparking wheel 14, the friction occurring as the gear lo moves in clockwise direction while the teeth 13 move, simultaneously permitting the head portion l5' of the closure member l5 which is inserted into an end of the gear i6 to move to a position as'shown in FGURE 2. Also, when releasing nger pressure from the iingerpiece 13, Vthe closure mornber l5 will return to its original position because of the returning of the gear lo of the sparking wheel i4 due to the returning of the iingerpiece 13 yto its original position as shown in FIGURE l by the biasing effect of the spring 2li. ln such case, the sparking wheel id, not shown in the drawing, will not rotate because of its ratchet construction, with only :the gear i6 rotating in counteclockwise direction. Since lighters provided with such sparking meoahnism are in common use, this type of the sparking mechanism abovementioned is not set forth in detail in the instant patent application.

Further, the lighter mechanism of the invention as shown in FIGURE l is provided with .amiealed permanent magnet 22 of tubular or rod shape which is inserted into and securely attached with an adhesive agent to the head portion l5 of the closure member 15. Magnet 22.2 is of an appropriate construction such that its north pole faces downward and its lsouth pole faces upward. On the top wall l2 underlying the permanent magnet 122 in its normal position valve mechanism 23 is suitably lattached by means of a screw through .packing material so that the end portion thereof is positioned in the fuel chamber ld. A method of attaching this valve mechanism 23 can be either by welding or brasing, but it is more preferable to use a screw for longer usage. This valve mechanism 23 incorporates an annealed permanent magnet 24 which may be of the same ltype as annealed permanent magnet 22 with its north pole facing upwardly and its south pole facing downward without being restricted in its vertical movement. Magnet 24 may be tubular and of appropriate weight to be caused to float by the pressure of the issuing fuel. The valve base member 2.5, which is to position the annealed permanent magnet 22., is provided thereunder with a threaded metal body 27 which holds a porous body 26 having pores penetrating therethrough for controlling pressure of the issuing fuel. Member 26 may be typically formed of a non-woven synthetic fiber textile, natural or synthetic hide. Metal body 27 with its center ,hole forms a fuel passageway 2% together with the pores provided by the control member 26. At the ltop of `this passageway 28 an enlarged hole 29 is formed for positioning the abovementioned annealed permanent magnet 24, `such that magnet 24 will close (in `the normal condition) the fuel passageway 2S exposed to the bottom of hole 2i?, by means of the valve 3d which is attached with an` adhesive agent to the bottom of the annealed permanent magnet 2d. A covering member 32. is provided at the top of lthe valve base member; covering member 32 includes a burner 3l having suilicient clearance to permit free` vertical mo-vement of the annealed permanent magnet 24. Covering member 32 is secured in its place by nut 33 to form a valve mechanism. Therefore, lunder normal-conditions the fuel passageway 2.8 will be closed by the valve 36B because of the repelling force Ne N produced between annealed permanent magnet 22 in the closure member l5 and .the other annealed permanent magnet 24 in `the valve mechanism,l both being of the same polarity.

FGURE 2 shows a ingerpiece i3 being depressed by manual pressure from its normal position downward against spring 2u. This causes sparking wheel lli to rotate clockwise producing sparks by friction, at the same time moving head porti-on l5 of the closure member 15 upwardly thus exposing valve mechanism 23 and releasing the N N magnetic force present under normal conditions, thereby' bringing the annealed ermanent magnet 2d in the valve mechanism to a free position. Consefluently the fuel passageway '2S which has been closed by the valve 3d in the normal condition will be opened by the issuing pressure of the fuel while lloating the annealed permanent magnet 24 upwardly. The fuel will go around the magnet 24 and then .through a fuel slit 24 to reach the burner 3l. After being blown out, the fuel is then ignited by the above-mentioned sparks to produce a light. The sparking by the movement of fingerpiece l5 is almost simultaneous with opening of the fuel valve, and takes place in a very sho-rt time so that it may ce almost impossible to distinguish between these actions.

FlGURE 3 shows an annealed permanent magnet 22a fixed to a head portion 15's: of the closure member lSa by means of a metal fitting 22 and another annealed permanent magnet 24a incorporated into a valve mechanism 23a, both of which are to produce a repelling force by their same poles in the normal condition, as in the construction shown in FlGURE l. ln addition thereto a device is included for adjusting the issuance of the fuel without changing the distance between the permanent magnets 22a, 24o. In this case, the valve base member 25a fits into the top wall l2@ of the lighter casing iin, the latter providing a fuel chamber lila. Valve base member 25a has an opening 34 at its top end, around which a hook shaped edge 25 is attached as by brazing, and also includes a protruding part 35 which has a hole 36 at the bottom communicating with the fuel chamber 10a. Valve base member 25a has a first chamber 37, a second chamber 38 and the third chamber 39 which progressively become smaller in the order with which they communicate with the opening end 34. Fuel control member 26a is located on the bottom of the smallest chamber 39, and includes a number of pores therethrough with a washer 27 crossing through the hole 3d communicating with the fuel chamber lila. An adjusting cylinder di) is so designed that it can be inserted into each chamber 37, 3b and 39 of the abovementioned valve base member 25a.. The portion of cylinder 4t) to be inserted into the third chamber 39 protrudes at the bottom to form the pressing bar 4i, around which a neoprene O-ring 42 is inserted in part and at the center portion of which is provided the fuel passageway 28a. The upper end of fuel passageway 38o has the annealed permanent magnet 24a provided with fuel slit Zfla on its upper side. Permanent magnet 2da is situated at the bottom of a cavit7 29a with clearance eX- isting around it and a neoprene valve 30a attached to the underside thereof closing the passageway.

Cavity 29a is opened on its upper side, the said opening being plugged by means of screwing a covering member 33a with a packing 33'a. The covering member is preferably formed by drilling a burner 3io while leaving sufficient clearance 29a to provide space for the vertical motion of the annealed permanent magnet 24a. Also, an adjusting ring 43 is secured around the top portion of the adjusting cylinder 40 with a threaded set screw 44. Adjusting ring 423 and the adjusting cylinder 40 are formed into one inseparable part so that cylinder 4d can move longitudinally while ring 43 is rotating. This adjusting cylinder 40 is inserted into chambers 37, 38 and 39 of the valve base member 25a, and secured in the second chamber 38 by screw so that pressing bar 4l at the bottom may contact the fuel control member 26a and the fuel passageway be situated thereabove. Therefore the fuel supply may be controlled by either' squeezing of the numerous pores of the fuel control member 26a situated at the bottom of the valve mechanism 23a, or the pressure applied to the fuel control member 26a is relaxed thereby opening numerous pores sufficiently.

In performing the above operation, a satisfactory result can be obtained by those who use lighters by rotating the adjusting ring 43. That is, rotation of the adjusting ring 43 in a clockwise direction causes the adjusting cylinder 40 to move downward rotating along the thread in the second chamber 38. This results in pressing bar 41 harder against the fuel control member 26a thereby crushing its pores and making the passage of fuel more dicult. On the contrary, when rotating adjusting ring 43 in the counter-clockwise direction, the adjusting cylinder 40 moves upwardly along the thread of the second chamber 38, releasing pressure of the bar 41 against the fuel control member 26a, thereby allowing a large number of pores to open suciently to facilitate passage of fuel and increase tiow rate. Although the position of the annealed permanent magnet 24a in the adjusting cylinder 40, which moves vertically while the adjusting ring 34 makes rotation movement, changes in vertical direction to a certain extent in consequence of the movement of adjusting cylinder 40, the closure member 15a in the normal condition is always placed over the valve mechanism 23a because of the upward pressure of spring 20 which, as shown in FIGURE 1, is applied to iingerpiece 13. Therefore, since the closure member 15a changes its position according to the vertical movement of adjusting cylinder 40, the distance between the annealed permanent magnet 22a. contained therein under the normal condition and the annealed permanent magnet 24a placed within the valve mechanism 23a is constant at all times, thereby allowing the sutiicient magnetic force to be produced.

FTGURE 4 shows two permanent magnets made of rubber, one of which, 2lb, is secured in a head portion 15b of the closure member 15b with a metal fitting 22b. Magnet 22h is placed with its north pole facing downward and its south pole facing upwardly similar to FIG- URE 1 to FIGURE 3. The other rubber permanent magnet 24b is incorporated within a valve mechanism 23b which under the normal conditions is covered by the closure member 15b positioned with its north pole facing upwardly and its south pole facing downward. The valve mechanism 23h consists of a valve base member 25b which is secured by a screw to the top wall 12b of lighter casing 11b which is provided with a fuel chamber b. Base member 25h is provided at its underside with a horizontal hole 46 through a fuel absorptive core 45 which is usually made of cotton yarn. The fuel absorptive core 45 is held within the base member 2517 by a rubber elastic member 48 and the porous type fuel control member 2Gb. Elastic member is of a dome shape and is positioned on a screw 4'7 attached to the bottom of the base member 2517. Fuel control member 2Gb has an adjusting cylinder 4Gb thereabove, forming a cavity 29b for receiving the bottom of rubber permanent magnet 24b. Fuel passageway 28h is provided which opens to the above-mentioned fuel control member 2611, with a slot 49 being provided on the outer surface at the lower part of the said cylinder where an O-ring 42h is inserted. The rubber permanent magnet 24b extends to a disk shape at its upper part under which is formed a Tv-shape extension 24]7, said extension being positioned 1n the cavity 29h of adjusting cylinder- 4017 poviding a certain clearance. Thus, it is seen that the fuel passageway 28b of adjusting cylinder 40h can be closed at the lower part of extension 24"b of the rubber permanent magnet 24J). The upper part of rubber permanent magnet 24h is provided with the fuel slot 24E/b on its surface and is positioned with the fuel slot 24b being kept within the covering member 32h which is secured by screw to the upper part in the inner surface of the said base member 25h. Accordingly, the rubber permanent magnet 24h can float by the fuel pressure coming from the fuel passageway 28b on account of its being located with clearance 29b inside of the chamber formed by the adjusting cylinder 40h and the covering member 32h.

The covering member 32h has a burner 31h at the center of its surface, said burner being closed by rubber permanent magnet 22h which is secured to the inside of head portion b while the closure member 15b in in the normal condition. Furthermore, at the top of the outer surface of covering member 32h there is a projection 32b which mates with a fuel adjusting ring 43h for controlling outflow of the fuel. Adjusting ring 43h is fitted into the projection SZb to thereby transmit the rotating power thereof to the adjusting cylinder 4Gb within the base member 25h. This serves to actua'te core 45 which is connected to the fuel adjusting ring 43h; the latter being provided with a nail 43b which is attached to a metal ring Sil inserted into a slit 23'!) at the upper part of the base member 23b so as to prevent said ring 4311 from being disengaged from the valve mechanism 23h.

When lighters with valve mechanism of such construction are subjected to action similar to that as shown in FIG. 2, namely, when the closure member 15b is removed from the valve mechanism 23h and then the burner Sib is exposed, the rubber permanent magnet 24h within the valve mechanism 23b will float upwardly by the issuing pressure of fuel. The magnetic force of the magnet 2lb of the closure member is released, thereby opening a fuel passageway 28]). Furthermore, when the closure member 15b returns to the normal condition, the north pole of rubber permanent magnet 2212 in the head portion 15b will face the magnet 24!) in the valve mechanism Zb, and said rubber permanent magnet Zlib will be pushed down by the repelling magnetic force thereby closing the fuel passageway 28b by its bottom. Control of the fuel outow can be provided in the same manner as shown in FIGURE 3.

The rubber permanent magnets 22h, 24b employed in this mechanism preferably permit the fuel passageway 281) to be closed by the rubber permanent magnet 24h of valve mechanism 23h itself, without requiring valves for closing fuel passageway such as with the annealed permanent magnet embodiment shown in FIGURE 1 or FIGURE 2. As a further feature of this embodiment, under the normal condition of the closure member the rubber permanent magnet 2217 will function as a stopper for the burner 3112. Accordingly, where a rubber permanent magnet is used, the valve mechanism 231: is capable of closing both the fuel passageway 2815 and the burner 31h by means of such rubber permanent magnet 2211.

FIGURE 5 shows lighters which are somewhat different in construction from the lighters shown in FIG- URES 1 to 4. The permanent magnets of FIGURE 5 consist of synthetic resin permanent magnets formed of nylon, Terylen, etc. containing annealed permanent magnet powder, said synthetic resin permanent magnet being lighter than the annealed permanent magnet and having a smoother surface than metal and rubber. This lighter has a valve mechanism 54 on the surface of a top Wall 52. A fuel chamber 53 is defined by the side wall 51 and the top wall 52. A bearing piece 57 holds, Within rotation range, a sparking wheel 55 by a support spindle 56, the valve mechanism 54 and the bearing piece 57 being in alignment. An overlying closure member 58 is secured by screws to shaft 59, with spring plate 60 thereby covering a lighter casing.

Furthermore, a cylinder 61 is provided inside of the closure member 53, which is positioned over the valve mechanism S4 and covers that mechanism in the normal condition. Lighters having such construction can be used by pressing the closure member 5S by manual pressure from the direction of sparking wheel 55, thereby exposing the valve mechanism 54 and the sparking wheel 55. Sparking wheel S5 is then rot-ated in a clockwise direction to produce sparks by rubbing a int 55'. In this construction two synthetic resin permanent magnets (hereinafter referred to as resin permanent magnets) are utilized. One such resin permanent magnet 62 is placed Within the cylinder 6l of the closure member 58 with a metal fastener 6l; the north pole of magnet 62 facing downward and its south pole facing upwardly. The other resin permanent magnet 63 is placed within the clearance being kept.

valve mechanism 54, with its north pole facing upwardly and its south pole facing downward. The valve mechanism 54 is provided with a base vmember 65 which is screwed to the cylinder 52 formed on the top wall 52 of the fuel chamber 53 by means of a packing 64 Vwithin which is placed an adjusting cylinder 66. The adjusting cylinder 66 is supported by a spring 69 so that a porous fuel control member 68 (such as natural or synthetic hide) is placed on the fuel passageway 67 drilled through the bottom of the base member 65. Furthermore, inside of the Iadjusting cylinder 66 is formed a cavity to in which the resin permanent magnet e3 is placed with A rubber valve 71 is attached to the underside of resin permanent magnet d3 to communicate with fuel passageway 67". At the top of adjusting cylinder 66 is provided a covering member 73 having in the center of surface a fuel opening "72, said covering member '73 being jointed by a screw provided inside of the top portion of the base member o5, with the resin permanent magnet o3 being covered with clearance so as to permit vertical movement thereof.

Also, on the outer surface of the top portion of covering member, a projection '73 is provided into which an adjusting ring 74 is to be inserted.l Adjusting ring 74 is fitted into projection 73' and fastened by a nail 7d to a ring To which is inserted into a slit 75 of the base member 65. ln this valve mechanism, the resin permanent magnet 63 is pushed downward by the same polarity of the resin permanent magnet 62, when the closure member 13 is covering the lighter in the normal condition, thereby closing the fuel passageway 67 by means of the rubber valve '71, When the closure member SS is opened by pressing, the cylinder 61 will move upwardly releasing the repelling force which is produced between the magnets of same polarity. Resin permanent magnet 33 then r'ioats under pressure of the fuel issuing from the fuel passageway 67', which is open, The fuel then passes through the clearance around the resin permanent magnet 63 and the fuel guide slot 63' formed on the surface of resin permanent magnet d3 and through the opening 72. At this time, fuel can be ignited by the sparks produced by rotating the sparking wheel S adjacent to the valve mechanism 54. Control of the fuel tiow can be accomplishedV by moving the adjusting cylinder ed vertically by means of rotation of adjusting ring 74 which is exposed l to the top wall 52. The adjusting ring 74 is placed on the top of the valve mechanism 54tthereby actuating the fuel control member 61'. Should it be desired to decrease the outflow of fuel, the adjusting ring 74 is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction to push the adjusting cylinder 6b downward and to squeeze the porous fuel control member 62. Should it be desired to increase the outtlow of fuel, the adjusting ring 74 is rotated in clockwise direction to remove pressure applied on the adjusting cylinder do, wherein the adjusting cylinder de receives the pressing operation upwardly by the spring 69 which is situated at the lower part thereof, and then moves upwardly thereby relaxing the fuel control member 68.

FIGURE 6 shows lighters having a valve mechanism which shuts the ow of fuel by means of the force of attraction produced between permanent magnets of opposite polarity coming into Contact with each other. The annealed permanent magnets used` inV this construction are of a tubular or fiat shape with their north poles adjoining the south poles. The tube-shaped annealed permanent magnet 122 is fixed, as by an adhesive agent,

l inside of the top portion 115 of the closure member 115.

The other flat type annealed permanent magnet 124 is associated with a valve mechanism 123 formed into a comparatively llat shape so that ,it can be placed under the opposite pole of said annealed permanent magnet 12.2. This valve mechanism consists of a base member 125 and a covering member 126 with the head portion 115 of the closure member 115 being placed upon a step 116. Step 116 is formed at the top wall 112 of the fuel chamber 11G placed under the normal condition, and a male threaded tube 127 which is incorporated within the bottom of the base member 125 and secured by a screw through packing 128 to a female threaded tube 117, provided at the top wall 112 of the lighter casing 111, with a fuel control material 13) provided thereunder. Furthermore, the base member 125 is provided with a cavity 129 for the placement of the at permanent magnet 124, with clearance being kept above the opening of the fuel passageway 12b inside of the male threaded tube 127. The annealed permanent magnet 124 is provided with a slit 12a for guiding fuel on bottom thereof. A rubber valve 131 is inserted into a cavity 124" at the center of top surface of the magnet 124. The covering member 126 has a fuel opening 137 in its center, and is secured, as by a screw, from the top of base member 12S so that the valve 131 of the annealed permanent magnet 12d can be positioned thereunder, with enough space being provided to permit the annealed permanent magnet 124 to move vertically. Closing of the valve in this construction is accomplished by pressing valve 131 tightly against the lower portion of burner 132 while the annealed permanent magnet 124 is being pulled upwardly by means of the attracting force of S-N-e SN produced when the annealed permanent magnet 122 fixed inside of top portion of the closure member 115 takes its normal position upon the valve mechanism 123. Opening of the valve can be accomplished by loss of the attracting force produced by the opposite poles of the two annealed permarient magnets 122, 12.4 while the closure member 115 is removed from the valve mechanism 123, thereby exposing the fuel opening 132. The annealed permanent magnet 124, inside of the valve mechanism 123 which has been lifted upwardly by the attracting force is to be dropped into the cavity 129 by its own weight, thereby opening burner 132 causing fuel to flow upwardly through the slit 12e in the annealed permanent magnet 124, enabling the fuel to be jetted out through the burner 132 and ignited.

FIGURE 7 shows lighters having three annealed permanent magnets within the valve mechanism 211 but no permanent magnet within the closure member 212. One of the annealed permanent magnets, 213, to be incorporated within valve mechanism 211 is of a tubular shape, whereas the other two annealed permanent mag-nets 214, 215' are of a ring shape. The valve mechanism 211 incorporates fuel passageway 216 being communicated with the fuel chamber 21@ at the lower interior thereof; as well as support 21S which supports the control member 217 interferring with said passageway 215; and also the base member 22d, the upper interior of which consists of a cavity 219 which is formed therein. A projection 222 is centrally provided at the bottom of cavity 219 to secure an internal cylinder 221, as by a screw, over the fuel passageway 21d. Said internal cylinder 221 has a tiny tube 224 at its upper part, which is provided to become a burner 223. The lower opening thereof is screwed to a side of projection 222. Anneaied permanent magnet of tubular shape 213 has a bottom rubber valve 213 for shutting the opening of fuel passageway 21d without being restricted in its vertical movement. The south pole of magnet 213 faces downwardly and its north pole faces upwardly. Furthermore, annealed permanent magnets 214, 215 of ring shape are provided in the cavity 219 which exists between the outer surface of the internal cylinder 221 and the base member 221i. One of these magnets, such as 215, is secured with an adhesive agent at the bottom of the cavity 219 with its north pole facing upwardly and its south pole facing downwardly. The vother annealed permanent magnet 214 is provided with a cap 225 exposed to the valve mechanism 211 at the upper part, and being placed over the annealed permanent magnet 215 mentioned above with its north pole facing downwardly and its south pole facing upwardly. This annealed permanent magnet 214 receives pressure of said Q closure member 2&2 through the cap 225 when the closure member 212 of the lighter is over the valve mechanism 211 in its normal condition, thereby being pressed against the surface of the other annealed permanent magnet 215. ln this condition, annealed permanent magnet 213 of the internal cylinder 221 drops in parallel by the attracting force produced by the opposite pole of annealed permanent magnet 214, thereby pressing rubber valve 213' attached to the bottom part of the magnet 213 against the opening of fuel passageway 216 to close the said passageway. When the closure member 212 exposes the valve mechanism 211, thereby releasing pressure off the annealed permanent magnet 214, said magnet 214 will be pushed upwardly by the repelling force produced by the same pole of the annealed permanent magnet 215 which is secured thereunder. Magnet 224 is stopped at the shoulder 227 of the covering member 226 which blocks the cavity 2l@ of the base member 226. In such a case, annealed permanent magnet 213 of the internal cylinder 221 will be lifted by the attracting force produced by the same polarity, thereby opening the fuel passageway 216 which was previously being closed by the valve 213. Thus, fuel will be jetted yout through the opening 220' and ignited. The valve mechanism 211 of such construction is fastened by means of screws (not shown) placed above the base member 22%, and through the use of packing to the cylinder 229 which is formed 'on the top wall 228 of the fuel chamber 210.

While in the foregoing disclosure, particular embodiments of the invention have been described, it will, of course, be understood that the invention is not to be limited thereto, since many variations and modifications may be made by those skilled in the art; and it is contemplated, therefore to cover all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention by the appended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive privilege or property is claimed are defined as follows:

l. A gas fueled lighter comprising a easing having a chamber ltherein for holding a gaseous fuel under pressure, a valve mechanism in said casing having a fuel passageway opening out of said chamber, said valve mechanism comprising a movable magnet valve member movable between a position in which it closes the fuel passageway and a position in which it leaves the fuel passageway open, the valve member being adapted to be moved to lopen said fuel passageway by gas pressure within said chamber, and said lighter further comprising a closure member movable from a position in which it overlies the outer end of the fuel passageway to a position in which it is clear of the outer end of the fuel passageway, said closure member having a magnet therein which in the position of the closure member over the end of the fuel passageway exerts a magnetic force on said movable magnet member which moves said movable magnetic member to the position which closes the fuel passageway.

2. A gas fueled lighter as claimed in claim 1 in which the fuel passageway has a valve opening therein, and said movable magnet valve member lies between said valve opening and the outer end of said fuel passageway, and the magnet valve member and said magnet in said closure member have like poles opposed when said closure member is 'over the end of said fuel passageway.

3. A gas fueled lighter as claimed in claim 1 in which the fuel passageway has a valve opening therein, and said movable magnet valve member lies between said valve opening and the chamber within said lighter, and the magnet valve member and said magnet in said closure l@ member have opposite poles opposed when said closure member is over the end of said fuel passageway.

4. A gas fueled lighter comprising a casing having a chamber therein for holding a gaseous fuel under pressure, a valve mechanism in said casing having Va fuel passageway opening out of said chamber, a gas flow control member in said fuel passageway, said valve mechanism comprising a movable valve seat member having a fuel passageway therethrough, said valve seat member being adjustably mounted in said valve mechanism for movement toward and away from said gas flow control member and acting on said gas flow control member for varying the rate of gas flow through said gas flow control member, said valve seat member having a movable magnet valve member movable in said valve seat member between a position in which it closes the fuel passageway and a position in which it leaves the fuel passageway open, the valve member being adapted to be moved to open said fuel passageway by gas pressure within said chamber, and said lighter further comprising a closure member movable from a position in which it overlies the outer end of said fuel passageway to a position in which it is clear of the outer end of the fuel passageway, said closure member having a magnet therein which in the position of the closure member over the end of the fuel passageway exerts a magnetic force on said movable magnet member which moves said movable magnetic member to the position which closes the fuel passageway.

5. A gas fueled lighter as claimed in claim 4 in which said valve mechanism comprises an internally threaded cup-shaped member mounted in said lighter and extending into said chamber, a cup-shaped extension on the inner end of said cup-shaped member, said extension having an aperture in the bottom thereof, said gas flow control member being a disc of porous compressible material and being positioned in the bottom of said extension over said aperture, and said valve seat-member being an exteriorly threaded cup-shaped member having an extension on the inner end thereof extending into the extension on the xed cup-shaped member and contacting the gas flow control memben 6. A gas fueled lighter as claimed in claim 4 in which the magnet valve member and the magnet in said closure member are annealed permanent magnets, and the magnet valve has a valve closure member on the surface thereof opposite the opening of the fuel passageway in the valve seat member.

7. A gas fueled lighter as claimed in claim 4 in which the magnet valve member and the magnet in said closure member are rubber having permanent magnet particles embedded therein, the rubber of said magnet valve member acting to close the fuel passageway in said movable valve seat member.

8. A gas fueled lighter as claimed in claim 4 in which the magnet valve member and the magnet in said closure member are synthetic resin having annealed permanent magnet particles therein, and the magnet valve has a valve closure member on the surface thereof opposite the opening of the fuel passageway in the valve seat member.

References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,575,086 1l/5l Atchison 236-48 2,660,573 11/53 Hansen 239-109 2,667,895 2/54 Pool et al 251-65 X 2,675,205 4/ 54 Fortin 67-7.1 2,708,944 5/55 Modine 251-65 X 2,765,802 10/56 Rowell 251-65 X 2,83 6,044 5 5 8 Zellweger 67-7. 1

EDWARD I. MICHAEL, Primary Examiner. 

1. A GAS FUELED LIGHTER COMPRISING A CASING HAVING A CHAMBER THEREIN FOR HOLDING A GASEOUS FUEL UNDER PRESSURE, A VALVE MECHANISM IN SAID CASING HAVING A FUEL PASSAGEWAY OPENING OUT OF SAID CHAMBER, SAID VALVE MECHANIS COMPRISING A MOVABLE MAGNET VALVE MEMBER MOVABLE BETWEEN A POSITION IN WHICH IT CLOSES THE FUEL PASSAGEWAAY AND A POSITION IN WHICH IT LEAVES THE FUEL PASSAGEWAY OPEN, THE VALVE MEMBER BEING ADAPTED TO BE MOVED TO OPEN SAID FUEL PASSAGEWAY BY GAS PRESSURE WITHIN SAID CHAMBER, AND SAID LIGHTER FURTHER COMPRISING A CLOSURE MEMBER MOVABLE FROM A POSITION IN WHICH IT OVERLIES THE OUTER END OF THE FUEL PASSAGEWAY TO A POSITION IN WHICH IT IS CLEAR OF THE OUTER END OF THE FUEL PASSAGEWAY, SAID CLOSURE MEMBER HAVING A MAGNET THEREIN WHICH IN THE POSITION OF THE CLOSURE MEMBER OVER THE END OF THE FUEL PASSAGEWAY EXERTS A MAGNETIC FORCE ON SAID MOVABLE MAGNET MEMBER WHICH MOVES SAID MOVABLE MAGNETIC MEMBER TO THE POSITION WHICH CLOSES THE FUEL PASSAGEWAY. 